Sophia, who art thou?

32. ROMAN

Sophia told me yesterday that she called of the wedding with Drew. It has been exactly 18 hours since she kissed me after she told me. It has been exactly 2 hours since I told her I loved her. And it has been exactly 1 hour, fifty nine minutes since she told me that she couldn't do "this". I don't even know what she meant by "this" so we just sat in silence for eleven minutes and then she left without saying anything to me. Just left. Left me. All alone.

*

Tessa's apartment isn't big. But when you're in it alone, it's massive. I've walked around the loft five times. I don't know why. Trying to find something. I don't remember anymore. But then I found something. Tessa's bar. Again, massive. So I helped myself to a little.

*

I don't know why my bed seems so uncomfortable today. It's like pure concrete. And unless it suddenly grew legs, that is a human I feel kicking me. I groan, as I feel someone shine a light right at my eyes.

"Why are you passed out on my floor, Roman?"

"Jesus?"

"No, dipshit. It's your sister. Now explain before I regret giving you my spare key."

"Can you get that light out of my face?" There isn't any acknowledgement but I find that I don't have to squint anymore.

"Explain."

The voice is hard as stone. "I had a little too much to drink."

"You almost never drink what is this... rum? You drank all my rum?"

"I don't know."

"Why did you go on a drinking spree?"

"I don't know."

I feel two arms like me off the floor and lean me against the sofa. "Tessa?"

"Who else would it be? God, you're drunk."

"I'm sorry, Tessa."

"That's okay."

"I think she'll break my heart again."

Tessa doesn't even have to ask who. "What happened?"

"She called it off with Drew but doesn't want anything to do "this" with me."

"She said that?"

I just nod. "But she kissed me, Tessa. I promise I didn't imagine it. She kissed me. I didn't. She said we should come back here. I didn't. She did."

"I need to go, Roman."

"But you just got here."

"I'll be back soon."

"Tessa?"

"Yes?"

I try to smile. "I don't want to stay in New York anymore."

"Go to sleep, Roman. You don't know what you're saying."

I want to tell her I know exactly what I'm saying. And that I mean every word. But she's already gone. Everything's gone dark. And before I know it, I think my vision has too.